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Greetings from OZ,
I recently purchased all three of the DVDs available through the the above website, these being “The Last of the Fotgotten Heroes”, the CFVA De-commissioning Ceremony and “Build Your Own Motor Torpedo Boat”. The following are my thoughts on these DVDs.
“The Last of the Forgotten Heroes”. GBP 9.99
To quote the back cover of this 70 minute film --
“As told by veterans, The Last of the Forgotten Heroes tells the story of British & Allied Coastal Forces operations through the Second World War.
Featured operations include: Captain Agar’s raid on Kronshtadt (should be Kronstadt); Covert & Clandestine operations of MTB 502; MTB 102 in Dunkirk; The Messina Straights; Invasion of Sicily & Elba; Operations from CF HQ Bari; Operations with Titi & The Partisans; HMS Medusa in D-Day and Cold War Operations.
This is a unique insight into naval ‘Cloak & Dagger’ type operations that would otherwise be lost in history”.
I thought the film was quite good, even though some scenes were not quite accurate with excerpts from the movie “The Ship That Died of Shame” and a short IWM film clip “The Broad Fourteens” added in some places. The film also includes quite a number of ‘still’ photographs which, in my humble opinion creates the right ‘atmosphere’. It not only covers WW2, but mentions actions in the Gulf of Finland in 1919 and very briefly mentions the immediate post-war Gay, Dark and Brave classes of RN MTBs.
While the narrator is talking about the exploits of Augustus Agar the film clip actually shows an early WW2 British Power Boat 60’ MTB clearly showing the quad Lewis guns in ‘bins’ on both sides of the bridge. As stated earlier, there are some interesting interviews from certain veterans with for me the highlight for me being Wallis Randall speaking about his time on ML 567. I speak to Wallis, among others semi-regularly usually to ask lots of questions. A Crew mate of his lives in Melbourne and is a member of the Australian Fairmile Association, as I am in a supporting capacity.
The CFVA De-Commissioning Ceremony. GBP 5.99
A short 40 minute DVD showing the ceremony and speeches with the one disappointing thing (for me) being not seeing the President Len Reynolds who I have only spoken to by ‘phone occasionally. It would have been nice to see him, assuming of course he was there.
Build Your Own Motor Torpedo Boat. GBP 9.99
What can I say about Paul Childs effort, in not only buying an old hulk in the first place (it only cost him ONE POUND), but then spending two years restoring the “Gay Archer” back to her former glory. It was a labour of love and I have to say his effort is truly magnificent. This 60 minute DVD covers the restoration work from start to finish and I think, covers it very well.
I highly recommend all three DVDs if you have any interest at all in stories about RN Light Coastal Forces. I assume you all have an interest which is why we all ‘lurk’ here in the first place.
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Roger Pearson.
Bendigo, Victoria, Australia.
"Roger's Little Ships".
Modelling Allied Light Coastal Forces 1914-1945.
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